Digestive Disorders Health Center

Complications of peptic ulcer

Complications of peptic ulcer may include bleeding, perforation, penetration, or obstruction.

Bleeding

Peptic ulcers sometimes bleed.

• Sometimes an ulcer may involve just the surface lining of the digestive tract. The person may then have a slow but constant loss of blood into the digestive tract. Over time, anemia may develop because of this slow blood loss.
• If ulcers become larger and extend deeper into the digestive tract lining, they may damage large blood vessels, resulting in sudden, serious bleeding into the intestinal tract. This can be very dangerous. Without prompt medical treatment to stop the bleeding, a person could bleed to death. Blood transfusions often are needed when serious bleeding occurs.

Nearly half of all cases of sudden (not long-term) bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract are caused by peptic ulcers. In the United States each year, there are about 150,000 cases of hospitalization due to bleeding peptic ulcers. Treatment with endoscopy can control bleeding in nearly all cases.¹

If you are vomiting blood and/or material that looks like coffee grounds, or if you have stools that are black, look like tar, or are maroon or bloody, see a doctor immediately. The chances of successfully treating your ulcer are best if you see a doctor when you first notice any bleeding.

Perforation

Perforation occurs when an ulcer eats through the wall of the stomach or intestine into the abdominal cavity.

• Although perforation is a much less frequent complication than bleeding, it is still a significant problem in people with unsuspected or untreated peptic ulcers.
• As people use more nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the incidence of perforation is increasing.
• When perforation occurs, partially digested food, bacteria, and enzymes from the digestive tract may spill into the belly cavity, causing inflammation and infection (peritonitis).
• Peritonitis usually causes sudden and severe pain. Treatment usually requires urgent hospitalization and surgery.